The Next Generation Development Platform: Windows DNA 2000

Windows DNA 2000 is the platform that developers will use to create Next Generation Windows Services. It consists of eight Microsoft server products, Application Services (what some might call middleware), and the Visual Studio 7.0 development environment. System designers can pick and choose the individual components they need to build distributed applications. However, the “2000” in the name is somewhat of a misnomer, since only Windows 2000 Server and its associated Application Services are currently available. Most of the server products won’t be available until later this year, and Visual Studio 7.0-the lynchpin of the NGWS initiative-won’t be available until next spring. It is not likely that serious development of NGWS-based applications will get under way until these tools are available.

Windows DNA Servers. The Windows DNA 2000 Servers provide a variety of network services, such as database storage, integration with mainframe systems, and messaging services. In addition to Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft will release five upgraded servers this summer: SQL Server 2000, Host Integration Server 2000, Exchange 2000, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, and Commerce Server 2000. Later this year, BizTalk Server 2000 and Application Center 2000 will be added to the platform.